Boerhavia intermedia
Presidio Co., TX
Spjut 15032, Nov 2002

Boerhavia spicata
El Paso Co., TX
Spjut 15029, Nov 2002

Boerhavia wrightii
Mohave Co., AZ
Spjut 16139, Oct 2007

Ahmed-Belkacem A., S. Macalou, F. Borrelli, R. Capasso, E. Fattorusso, O. Taglialatela-Scafati and A. Di Pietro. 2007. Nonprenylated rotenoids, a new class of potent breast cancer resistance protein inhibitors. J. Med. Chem. 50(8): 1933–1938.  “Two rotenoids isolated from Boerhaavia diffusa (Nyctaginaceae), boeravinones G (1) and H (2), have been found to potently inhibit the drug efflux activity of breast cancer resistance protein (BCRP/ABCG2), a multidrug transporter responsible for cancer cell resistance to chemotherapy. The isolation of nine additional rotenoid derivatives (3-11), including the new boeravinones I (10) and J (11), from the extract of B. diffusa roots allowed us to establish structure-activity relationships toward inhibition of BCRP-mediated drug transport activity. The results show the positive roles of a methoxy group at position 6 of ring B and the absence of a substituent at position 10, and the requirement for a 6a/12a double bond between rings B and C. In contrast, both contraction of ring B, to give a coumaronochromone (11), and tetrasubstitution of ring D appeared to be detrimental for the inhibitory potency. The present study provides the first data on the BCRP-inhibiting activity of rotenoid derivatives, indicating boeravinones as a new class of interesting BCRP inhibitors.”

Borrelli F, V. Ascione, R. Capasso, A. A. Izzo, E. Fattorusso and O. Taglialatela-Scafati. 2006. Spasmolytic effects of nonprenylated rotenoid constituents of Boerhaavia diffusa roots. J. Nat. Prod. 69(6): 903–906.  “Boerhaavia diffusa is an Ayurvedic remedy used traditionally for the treatment of a number of diseases, including those affecting the gastrointestinal tract. In the current investigation, a methanol extract obtained from roots of B. diffusa exhibited a significant spasmolytic activity in the guinea pig ileum, probably through a direct effect on the smooth muscle. A detailed phytochemical analysis of this methanol extract led to the isolation of one new (12) and six known (6-11) rotenoid derivatives. The structure of the new compound was determined through interpretation of its MS and NMR data. All the isolated rotenoids were evaluated for their effect on intestinal motility in vitro, and the results obtained showed unambiguously that they are active spasmolytic constituents. Preliminary structure-activity relationships for this class of compounds are suggested.”